Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 443 · 40 questions

Writing tip (One clause leans on the other): Find the clause that starts with because, although, if, when, since, who, which or that — the subordinate clause (When the rain stopped). On its own it is not a complete sentence. The rest is the main clause (we went out to play): it makes complete sense alone. Choose the joining word by meaning: because → a reason, although → a surprise, if → a condition, when → a time, since → from a time until now, who → a person, which → a thing, that → what someone says, thinks or knows. Sort any sentence: one clause → simple; two main clauses → compound; a main clause + a subordinate clause → complex.

1. 1.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) It has rained every day (c) has rained every day
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) wore a sweater (c) Riya wore a sweater
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) is from Kochi (c) The girl is from Kochi
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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